Polyphasic taxonomy, a consensus approach to bacterial systematics.

The latest release of the large ribosomal subunit RNA database contains 429 sequences. All these sequences are aligned, and incorporate secondary structure information. The rRNA WWW Server at URL http://rrna.uia.ac.be/ provides researchers with an easily accessible resource to obtain the data in this database in a number of computer-readable formats. A new query interface has been added to the server. If necessary, the data can also be obtained by anonymous ftp from the same site.

https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8539224/file/8539228.pdf

Database on the structure of large ribosomal subunit RNA

SUMMARY The genus Arcobacter , defined almost 20 years ago from members of the genus Campylobacter , has become increasingly important because its members are being considered emergent enteropathogens and/or potential zoonotic agents. Over recent years information that is relevant for microbiologists, especially those working in the medical and veterinary fields and in the food safety sector, has accumulated. Recently, the genus has been enlarged with several new species. The complete genomes of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter nitrofigilis are available, with the former revealing diverse pathways characteristic of free-living microbes and virulence genes homologous to those of Campylobacter. The first multilocus sequence typing analysis showed a great diversity of sequence types, with no association with specific hosts or geographical regions. Advances in detection and identification techniques, mostly based on molecular methods, have been made. These microbes have been associated with water outbreaks and with indicators of fecal pollution, with food products and water as the suspected routes of transmission. This review updates this knowledge and provides the most recent data on the taxonomy, species diversity, methods of detection, and identification of these microbes as well as on their virulence potential and implication in human and animal diseases.

Taxonomy, Epidemiology, and Clinical Relevance of the Genus Arcobacter

Rapid identification by PCR of the genus Campylobacter and of five Campylobacter species enteropathogenic for man and animals

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of campylobacteria including Campylobacter jejuni subsp. jejuni (C. jejuni) and Campylobacter coli in human clinical samples and in samples from healthy individuals and to reevaluate the efficacies of conventional selective methods for isolation of Campylobacter spp. Two charcoal-based selective media, modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) and cefoperazone-amphotericin-teicoplanin (CAT) agar, were compared with Skirrow's blood-based medium and with a filter method (filter) applied to a yeast-enriched blood agar. A total of 1,376 specimens were tested on all four media, and the percentages of thermophilic Campylobacter-positive specimens isolated on Skirrow's medium, filters, CAT agar, and mCCDA were 82, 83, 85, and 95%, respectively. When additional samples were processed with the three selective media, mCCDA recovered significantly more thermophilic Campylobacter spp. than Skirrow's medium (P = 0.0034). No significant difference between Skirrow's medium and CAT agar was observed in this study. Another six taxa were identified, namely, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter curvus-like bacteria, Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, Helicobacter cinaedi, and Sutterella wadsworthensis. Most of these strains were isolated after 5 to 6 days of incubation by use of the filter technique. This paper provides evidence for the existence of S. wadsworthensis in human feces from clinical cases of gastrointestinal disorders and in feces from a healthy individual. Furthermore, C. concisus was isolated from a large number of diarrheal cases, particularly those at the extremes of age, but was additionally isolated from the feces of healthy people. Further investigations to establish the role of C. concisus and S. wadsworthensis in enteric disease is needed. We conclude that a range of campylobacteria may cause infections in Denmark.

Prevalence of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, and Sutterella spp. in Human Fecal Samples as Estimated by a Reevaluation of Isolation Methods for Campylobacters

A Variable 23S rDNA Region is a Useful Discriminating Target for Genus-Specific and Species-Specific PCR Amplification in Arcobacter Species

Specific detection of campylobacter-concisus by pcr amplification of 23s rdna areas.

Species-specific detection of campylobacters important in veterinary medicine by PCR amplification of 23S rDNA areas

Rapid and sensitive isolation and detection of Campylobacter species in poultry products by using an immunomagnetic separation technique combined with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Katrin Bastyns

Papers

A Variable 23S rDNA Region is a Useful Discriminating Target for Genus-Specific and Species-Specific PCR Amplification in Arcobacter Species

Specific detection of campylobacter-concisus by pcr amplification of 23s rdna areas.

Species-specific detection of campylobacters important in veterinary medicine by PCR amplification of 23S rDNA areas

Rapid and sensitive isolation and detection of Campylobacter species in poultry products by using an immunomagnetic separation technique combined with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)